Anquan Boldin is upended by Green Bay's Jerron McMillian in the first quarter. The San Francisco 49ers played the Green Bay Packers at Candelstick Park in San Francisco, Calif, on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Anquan Boldin is upended by Green Bay's Jerron McMillian in the...

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Green Bay's Sam Shields breaks up a pass intended for Kyle Williams that would have given the 49ers a first down in the fourth quarter. The San Francisco 49ers played the Green Bay Packers at Candelstick Park in San Francisco, Calif, on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Colin Kaepernick chats with Aaron Rogers after the 49ers defeated Green Bay Packers. The San Francisco 49ers played the Green Bay Packers at Candelstick Park in San Francisco, Calif, on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Colin Kaepernick chats with Aaron Rogers after the 49ers defeated...

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49ers coach Jim Harbaugh congratulated Vernon Davis (85) after his first half touchdown Sunday September 8, 2013. The San Francisco 49ers open their 2013 season with a 34-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh congratulated Vernon Davis (85) after his...

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Anquan Boldin runs into the end zone for the 49ers' second touchdown in the first half. The San Francisco 49ers played the Green Bay Packers at Candelstick Park in San Francisco, Calif, on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Anquan Boldin runs into the end zone for the 49ers' second...

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Anquan Boldin (81) handed his touchdown ball to a fan (far right) in the first half Sunday September 8, 2013. The San Francisco 49ers open their 2013 season with a 34-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Anquan Boldin (81) handed his touchdown ball to a fan (far right)...

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Vernon Davis shoots the ball over the uprights after he scored the 49ers first touchdown in the first quarter. The San Francisco 49ers played the Green Bay Packers at Candelstick Park in San Francisco, Calif, on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Vernon Davis shoots the ball over the uprights after he scored the...

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Colin Kaepernick took off on a running play for a big gain the second half Sunday September 8, 2013. The San Francisco 49ers open their 2013 season with a 34-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Colin Kaepernick took off on a running play for a big gain the...

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Vernon Davis (85) celebrated his second touchdown with Colin Kaepernick (7)in the third quarter Sunday September 8, 2013. The San Francisco 49ers open their 2013 season with a 34-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Vernon Davis (85) celebrated his second touchdown with Colin...

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Tarell Brown (25) recovered a fumble in the first quarter that set up a touchdown Sunday September 8, 2013. The San Francisco 49ers open their 2013 season with a 34-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Tarell Brown (25) recovered a fumble in the first quarter that set...

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Colin Kaepernick threw for a completion in the first half Sunday September 8, 2013. The San Francisco 49ers open their 2013 season with a 34-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Colin Kaepernick threw for a completion in the first half Sunday...

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Colin Kaepernick (7) throws a touchdown to Vernon Davis in the third quarter Sunday September 8, 2013. The San Francisco 49ers open their 2013 season with a 34-28 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Colin Kaepernick (7) throws a touchdown to Vernon Davis in the...

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Ray McDonald pressures Aaron Rogers in the fourth quarter. The San Francisco 49ers played the Green Bay Packers at Candelstick Park in San Francisco, Calif, on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Judging from how the first game unfolded, the 49ers' trade for Anquan Boldin might end up being one of the great steals ever. And one of the nicest things one brother has ever done for the other since Wilbur Wright let Orville take the controls of the plane.

Boldin arrived in the Bay Area in March with a Super Bowl ring on his finger, earned at his new employer's expense, and a reputation as one of the best receivers in the game. There was reason to be excited, but his monumental debut against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday was more than most could have dreamed.

Boldin caught 13 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown. That performance is tied for fourth on the 49ers' all-time list of single-game receptions, eighth in receiving yards. No better way to win over San Francisco than to immediately jump alongside Jerry Rice in the record books.

"He played like a grown man today," said Colin Kaepernick, who put in an extremely mature performance himself, with 412 yards passing, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 129.4 quarterback rating.

The 49ers ran out of superlatives gushing about their new teammate. Tarell Brown: "He's a monster." Patrick Willis: "That's what you call an ... acquisition." Those defenders learned the hard way what damage Boldin can do: He shredded them for six receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

Which is why it was fairly stunning that a few weeks later, the 49ers were able to acquire him for a sixth-round pick. The Ravens reportedly wanted Boldin - making $6 million this season - to take a pay cut, but it's hard to imagine they basically would give him away for a low draft pick. Unless John Harbaugh, basking in championship euphoria, felt unusually generous toward his younger brother.

"It feels great to have him," Jim Harbaugh said. "We did give up a draft choice for him and we pay him a lot of money. But I definitely think he's worth every penny. Every penny."

And then the 49ers' head coach laughed the big belly laugh of a man who knows he got a good deal. The draft pick that the 49ers traded to the Ravens for Boldin went through Seattle and eventually Detroit, which used it on running back Theo Reddick, who will sit on the bench.

"I think we got the better end of that deal," Kaepernick said.

When Michael Crabtree went down with an injury, the acquisition looked especially prescient. Kaepernick had such a strong chemistry with Crabtree that there was reason to be legitimately concerned about how he would fare without him. But Kaepernick quickly found a rhythm with Boldin.

"That's the way they've been practicing," Jim Harbaugh said. "Anquan has been making those kind of catches all camp long."

Boldin had a great connection with Joe Flacco in Baltimore. And he thinks he can have that with Kaepernick.

"We're getting there," Boldin said. "The more we play together, the better we'll be. The great thing that me and Kap have is communication. During camp on every play, I'm coming to the sideline, he's asking me what I see, I ask him the same thing. There's a lot of communication between us. When you have that, it bodes well."

Boldin, 32, is in his 11th year in the league. He was overshadowed by Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona and by the Ravens' defense in Baltimore. He's not a flashy guy, but he's been a force, ever since he debuted in 2003 with a 10-reception, 217-yard game.

"For me, it's a business," he said, a point illustrated when he sprinted off the field after the game rather than flex for the TV cameras. "I don't go out for the coin toss, I go to the locker room. I come out here to do a job and hopefully I do my job well."

Boldin grew up in Florida and played quarterback in high school, so he wasn't focused on Jerry Rice. But he was a 49ers fan.

And he showed a little bit of Lott. On one Kaepernick scramble, Boldin delivered a rattling block on one of the Packers' cornerbacks.

"I know a few times I was running downfield and I just heard 'Boom!' " fullback Bruce Miller said. "He's just laying guys out. We run the ball so well because our receivers block so well downfield. And he does that every play."

The Packers did their homework to contain the read option - but Kaepernick was mostly a pocket passer Sunday and Boldin, ripping off huge chunks of yardage, was someone Green Bay didn't have to contend with in January.

"He had a hell of a day," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. "When they have a premier guy like that, especially someone they're featuring, you have to take that away. We did not do that."

McCarthy said his team couldn't stop Boldin when it counted, particularly on the key fourth-down play at the end of the game that sealed the 49ers' win. Boldin's 13th and final reception came on 4th-and-2: Kaepernick scrambled, Boldin got open, they connected. And that was pretty much the ballgame.

"We had him doubled on big third downs and on corner routes, and he goes up and makes the play," McCarthy said. "That's what it's all about."

That was exactly the kind of frustration the 49ers were expressing Feb. 3. A few weeks later, they pulled off what might be the heist of the year.

Maybe John Harbaugh received a "Thanks Bro," text Sunday night.

S.F. top receiving-yardage games

Player

Date

Opponent

Yards

1.

Jerry Rice

12-18-95

Minnesota

289

2.

John Taylor

12-11-89

L.A. Rams

286

3.

Terrell Owens

12-17-00

Chicago

283

4.

Jerry Rice

12-9-85

L.A. Rams

241

5.

Dave Parks

10-3-65

Baltimore

231

6.

Jerry Rice

10-14-90

Atlanta

225

Bernie Casey

11-13-66

Chicago

225

8.

Anquan Boldin

9-8-13

Green Bay

208

9.

Jerry Rice

11-17-86

Washington

204

10.

Gordie Soltau

11-9-52

N.Y. Giants

196

49ers single-game receptions

Only three times in S.F. history has a receiver caught more passes than Anquan Boldin did: